We Use Math Blog

Have you ever wondered how patterns arise in the wrinkles of raisins or fingerprints? A team of MIT mathematicians and engineers has developed a mathematical theory that predicts how wrinkles on curved surfaces take their shape. Click here to learn more!

Carmen Petrick Smith, an assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Vermont and former high school math teacher, discovered that students showed a better understanding of angles and angle measurements when they performed body-based tasks. Elementary school students use a Kinect for Windows mathematics program to learn geometry. Click here to learn more.

BYU mathematicians recently calculated the best local pizza “Pi” in Provo and Orem, Utah. Five undergraduate students with background in math, computer coding, and statistics combined their skills to come up with an equation to discover the best pizza joint. Click here to read more!

It can be difficult to diagnose patients who suffer from severe shortness of breath. Researchers have developed an algorithm that uses existing machinery to allow emergency medical staff to quickly determine the cause of the patient’s symptoms. Click here to check out how this new procedure can help save lives!

Kirk Goldsberry, an avid basketball fan and geographer, has developed a system that maps every shot an NBA player takes. Goldsberry tracks how frequently each player shoots from each spot as well as the success of each shot. Click here to check out how this data is calculated and used.